Newmarket school renovation project complete

Thursday

Aug 28, 2014 at 3:15 AM

By Morgan Palmermpalmer@fosters.com

NEWMARKET — The renovation project to address life and safety issues at Newmarket Junior-Senior High School has been completed.

The renovation began in June after the completion of the school year. The renovation plans were set in place after Newmarket Fire Chief Rick Malasky ordered that fire and life safety issues be addressed and improved by September 2015.

If these improvements had not been made, then NJSHS could face a possible closure.

Meridian Construction, out of Gilford, spent the summer demolishing and installing ramps, installing new stairs, upgrading and rearranging doors, spraying foam insulation to the underside of the roof deck, demolishing the existing plaster ceiling system, installing new acoustical ceiling tiles, and upgrading vinyl flooring. All of these renovations brought the school’s north/east wing on both the first and second floor into compliance.

The project was slated to cost approximately $1 million dollars. According to Tim Long, the president of Meridian Construction, they will not know the final cost of the second round of renovations for a few more weeks when the invoices come in.

“This was our second year at Newmarket,” said Long, “where we competed and were awarded based on best value. The success of the project is a direct result of the excellent working relationships that have been cultivated between the district and Meridian Construction.”

“Nice job and thank you, Meridian, for your quick actions and fantastic work,” Christine Blouin, the business administrator for Newmarket School District, said.

Meridian Construction worked on the facility last summer as well. The first phase of construction cost $642,000 and created new storage for the science department, a refurbished science lab, and other plumbing and electrical work was done as well.

Despite NJSHS undergoing two renovations, there has been discussion of a third phase of construction set for next year that could cost close $1 million. The school board and town council have started working together to find out if another renovation is the best plan, or if the students of Newmarket should be tuitioned to another nearby school.